Network Device Having Interface Capable of Operating in Independent Mode

1. A Network Interface Card (NIC) operatively coupled with a network device and comprising at least one network interface/port, wherein the network device forms part of a network having a plurality of other network devices, said network or a part thereof being connected to a central routing server (CRS), said NIC comprising: a processing unit; a non-volatile memory operatively coupled with the processing unit; Random Access Memory (RAM); an interface for communication with said network device; one or more Mode Pins; and a power input connected to a decoupled power supply, wherein the NIC is configured to: detect that the network device undergoes a network change event, said network change event being related to change in state of the network device; and transmit a message associated with the network change event to the CRS when the network change event is detected on the network device; wherein the NIC is configured in a manner that allows the NIC to work in an independent mode by decoupling from main processor of the network device such that the NIC performs one or more programmed operations even when the network device is non-operational or when the network device undergoes the network change event such that when the network device is unavailable to the network, the NIC of said network device works in the independent mode to communicate with the CRS on behalf of the network device without the plurality of neighboring network devices informing the CRS individually about the unavailability of the said network device.

2. The NIC as claimed in claim 1 , wherein change of mode of the NIC between normal and independent mode does not affect adjacent network connections, and other network devices of the network do not have to undergo any network change due to the change of the mode of the NIC on the network device, making the NIC mode change transparent to the network.

3. The NIC as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, during operation of the NIC in the independent mode, said one or more programmed operations are selected from any or a combination of reporting errors when said network device is non-functional, performing minimum programmed operations even when said network device is non-functional, sending status updates of said network device periodically or in real-time, handling communication with external network devices during software upgrade, detecting software/hardware/firmware failures in said network device, sending programmed messages, performing operations that are programmed to be offloaded from said network device to said NIC, and replying to one or more configured requests from other network devices.

4. The NIC as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said network device is any or a combination of a client device, a router, a switch, a hub, a controller, a network security device, a server, and a computing device having networking capabilities.

5. The NIC as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said network change event comprises any or a combination of software change in said network device, crash of said network device, network device reboot or boot up, network device shutdown, software debug, power outage/power outage resolution, power failure, and a failure in which the network device becomes non-functional and is unable to directly communicate over its network ports.

6. The NIC as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said decoupled power supply is any or a combination of a battery, a secondary power supply, and Power over Ethernet (PoE) based powering.

7. The NIC as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said NIC further comprises a Mode Register, wherein the Mode Register is configured to enable/disable the independent mode based on value of said Register.

8. The NIC as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said NIC and components thereof are implemented as an System-on-Chip (SoC).

9. The NIC as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said one or more Mode Pins comprise a CHG_MODE Pin that is configured as an Input Pin to enable change in Mode of said NIC from Normal to Independent or from Independent to Normal, and a CHK_MODE pin that is configured as an Output Pin to indicate current mode of said NIC.

10. The NIC as claimed in claim 9 , wherein when the network change event occurs, the NIC performs any programmed operations in independent mode or normal mode based on the pull of the CHG_MODE Pin and when Independent mode is enabled by the Mode Register.

11. The NIC as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said NIC further comprises a RESET Pin to allow a user to reset the NIC to default settings.

12. The NIC as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said network or a part thereof being operatively coupled to the CRS through an out-of-band (OOB) network, wherein said network device is connected with said CRS through said at least one network interface/port.

13. The NIC as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said network device, using said NIC and its said at least one network interface/port, sends messages to and receives messages from said CRS without interacting with the main processor of the network device.

14. The NIC as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the network device, when it is mobile, is capable of relaying its identification (ID) to the nearest cell tower, indicating to the cell tower, its location even when the mobile network device is switched off.

15. A network device comprising a Network Interface Card (NIC) as claimed in claim 1 .